Vermont Tackles Volunteer Firefighter Issue
Vermont lawmakers find themselves in a pickle regarding a bill that is intended to protect volunteer firefighters (from The Boston Globe).
MONTPELIER, Vt. --A bill to protect volunteer firefighters who suffer heart attacks in the line of duty also could jeopardize the fragile network of volunteers who staff the scores of rural fire houses around the state, lawmakers were told Wednesday.There are few requirements for someone to qualify for a position with a volunteer fire department, other than a willingness to serve. But if state law is changed as proposed, some warn that volunteers might have to face more stringent requirements regarding their health, physical abilities and age.
Read the whole article to get all of the details.
I can see where this would be a problem in South Dakota too. Should volunteer firefighters be in good shape to belong to a fire department? Absolutely. However, if that is required, there would be a lot fewer firefighters in our department. I would bet that would hold true for most volunteer fire departments.
A small community can't afford to lose a large number of its volunteer firefighters. There just aren't enough people in the community that are physically fit and willing to volunteer.
I'm not sure what the answer is. Perhaps fitness requirements could be phased in over several years allowing volunteer fire departments time to get their firefighters in good shape or recruit new members.
